Navy Hands Over Case of 20 Oil Thieves, Impounded Vessel to EFCC
NDLEA OPERATIVES
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Brass, Bayelsa on Saturday took over the case of 20 oil thieves and impounded vessel from the Nigerian Navy.
The suspects and the vessel were arrested in in Brass, Bayelsa, according to Commodore Patrick Effah, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Soroh (NNS).
Effiah told newsmen that the vessel was loaded by the suspects with 700,000 litres of crude oil suspected to have been obtained illegally.
He disclosed that the vessel was arrested on Dec. 6, 2021 in Akassa River and the crew arrested for indulging in crude oil theft.
At the handover ceremony to the EFCC on Saturday, the Effiah said this was in compliance with the naval headquarters.
According to him, the vessel and crew committed economic sabotage.
He said, “The Nigerian Navy has been given the mandate to apprehend any ship suspected to be carrying out illegalities in the Nigerian maritime domain, however, by law, we are not allowed to carry out prosecution of offenders.
“We are directed to handover seized vessels to the EFCC for further investigations and possible prosecution’’ .
During the ceremony, an official of the EFCC, Mr Anthony Mark, of the Port Harcourt Zonal Office received the vessel.
He said the commission would carry out thorough investigation into the matter to determining the level of involvement, content of the vessel and prosecution of those involved.
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